using a second monitor

Question

I am using an external monitor because my laptop has cracked screen. I lost the ability to access my externall screen when my cat walked across my keyboard, I assume it is a setting. Then while trying to get the PIN and log back onto my computer, since I couldn't see the screen,clearly I must have messed up enough that it is asking for a security phrase. Since I cant log on to my laptop, Is there a way to bypass my laptop and reset it to my external monitor?

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Moved from: System Center Operations Manager

Answer 1

If your external monitor is not displaying anything after your laptop's screen was cracked and you encountered issues with logging in, here are some steps you can try to regain access:

1. Keyboard Shortcut: Use the keyboard shortcut Windows + P to toggle between display modes. You can cycle through options like "PC screen only," "Duplicate," and "Extend" to see if the external monitor activates.
2. Power Cycle: Disconnect the external monitor and restart your laptop. Once it is fully booted, reconnect the monitor to see if it is detected.
3. Safe Mode: If you still cannot access the external monitor, try booting your laptop into Safe Mode. This can sometimes bypass display issues and allow you to change settings. To do this, you typically need to press F8 or Shift + F8 during boot-up, but this can vary by manufacturer.
4. Reset Display Settings: If you can access the login screen but not the desktop, try using the Ctrl + Alt + Del combination to bring up the options, then use the keyboard to navigate to the display settings if possible.
5. External Monitor Settings: Ensure that the external monitor is powered on and set to the correct input source (like HDMI or VGA) that matches the connection from your laptop.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider seeking professional help or using recovery options to reset your laptop settings, which could potentially restore access to the external monitor.

Answer 2

Hi,

This article describes exactly what happens when Windows unexpectedly changes to “Second screen only” after plugging in or closing the laptop lid, and provides a workaround using the Windows + P shortcut.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/shell-experience/display-configuration-reverts-second-screen-only-resume-standby

Let me know how it goes, I'm Happy to help!